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Beauty Sleep-Myth or Reality?

Posted
on
May 02, 2016

Why do you need different cream at night, instead of being able to use a
day cream twice? Some may wonder if this is just a marketing ploy by
manufacturers. And does enough sleep really help your skin? Before
looking into the specifics of needing a night cream, let’s delve into
the aspects of sleep itself. We know that insomnia has a negative effect
on the body, including the skin, and can accelerate aging. This occurs
due to the fact that poor sleep raises cortisol levels and elevates
blood sugar, which causes tissue damage by inflammation. Growth hormones
are also affected in a negative way by a lack of sleep.

A study at Case Medical Center in Cleveland demonstrated that sleep
quality impacts skin function and aging. Specifically at the level of
the skin, poor sleep has been linked to a disruption of the moisture
skin barrier and UV damage repair. Sleep deprived women showed signs of
premature skin aging and a decrease in their skin’s ability to recover
after sun exposure. Furthermore, the study concludes that poor-quality
sleepers also show signs of intrinsic skin aging, such as fine lines,
uneven pigmentation, and reduced elasticity.

There is evidence to support the fact that the skin has day and night
rhythms. There is hydration loss, higher skin temperature and more
acidity to the skin at night. Due to these factors, it would indicate
that a different moisturizer would be appropriate in the day versus the
night. Therefore, the two different creams may not be just a marketing
ploy, but have some scientific evidence to back it up.

When looking for a night cream, there are some factors to keep in
mind. Look for creams that contain botanicals that have soothing and
relaxing properties to them to help the body rest well. Lavender would
be the best choice for this. Since the skin is resting at night it would
be important to choose a cream that contains repairing ingredients such
as Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

The skin absorbs more nutrients during sleep, so nighttime
moisturizers should contain more hydrating agents such as Vitamin E,
Hyaluronic acid, and plant oils. Ingredients that increase the skin’s
photosensitivity should be used only at night. Those ingredients would
include Alpha Hydroxy Acid and other ingredients for skin lightening.
All in all it is best to use face creams that use only naturally derived
ingredients because the skin is your largest organ, and what you put on
your skin can be absorbed to a certain degree into your body.